Using Character SheetAstWhen writing fiction you need the right combination of plot, action, description and character development to bring a story to life for the reader. Character development is one of the most important things about writing fiction in order to move your plot along. This is why it is extremely important you know the characters well. But how much does the author really have to know about them before they start writing? This can depend on what kind of story they are writing and its length. This will determine the amount of character information they will need to make them really come to life. I’ve broken my character sheet down into what I use for each type of writing. Your character sheets may vary.
At the top I like to make a note of the following:
I like to capture a starsign and then study the traits which fit the type of character I want them to be. I think this a highly effective way of developing a characters really well expecially when teaching children and can be a fun way of doing this. Astrology can be inspiring and help with developing good and bad guys! Stories with a higher word count will obviously need highly developed characters. The character’s descriptions can be as detailed as you want and can even give background information, which will make them more real for the readers. Use the above information and add the following:
For more serious writing such as novellas and novels which require the most detailed characters because they are as much character driven stories as plot driven, you can add to this list capturing more personal things such as favourite colours, sayings, food, their education or future plans. The list is endless. Character sheets with more detailed physical description, personality traits, and an extensive background will go a long way to making a story that pulls a reader in and keeps them reading to end. |
